BOULDER, CO. – SEPTEMBER 76: Buffs wide receiver Paul Richardson (6) gathered in a Connor Wood pass for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Buffs took a lead on the TD 31-24. The University of Colorado football team hosted Central Arkansas at Folsom Field Saturday night, September 7, 2013. Photo By Karl Gehring/The Denver Post

BOULDER — Paul Richardson wasn’t the lone bright spot for Colorado on Saturday night at Folsom Field, but the junior receiver definitely didn’t take a step back like some of his offensive teammates.

Richardson, who missed all of last season with reconstructive knee surgery, entered the nonconference game against Central Arkansas leading the country with 208 receiving yards. And he now has a whopping 417 yards after his 11-catch (two- touchdown), 209-yard performance against the Bears, who imploded late as CU rallied for a 38-24 win.

“It all goes to the offensive line and the quarterback,” Richardson said of his monster year while pointing toward Connor Wood in the postgame news conference. “We’ve been fortunate to recognize some blown coverages.”

On his second touch Saturday, Richardson took a pass from Wood and went 55 yards for a touchdown, adding to his 82- and 75-yard touchdown receptions in the opener against Colorado State. He later added a 30-yard touchdown reception as the Buffs rallied for a 31-24, fourth-quarter lead.

“Connor has done a good job of finding him and (Richardson) is kind of slippery,” CU coach Mike MacIntyre said.

Richardson’s 55-yard touchdown gave CU a 7-0 lead. The Buffs led 14-0 before being outscored 24-3 heading into the fourth quarter.

Two defensive touchdowns by the Buffs made up for a mistake-prone offense, and a big UCA fumble led to Richardson’s 30-yard score.

Before that, Wood had thrown two interceptions, and the Buffs were 2-of-9 on third-down conversions.

“We need to make sure we’re finishing once we get into the red zone,” Richardson said at halftime. “We’ve had opportunities, but we have to work on finishing and not leaving points out there.”

Richardson’s first touchdown came on CU’s third drive in the first quarter. He later had two big catches to get the Buffs in scoring position, and one led to points — Will Oliver’s 31-yard field goal that tied it 17-17.

“That was a really fun play when Connor and I connected,” Richardson said of his 55-yard touchdown at halftime, giving him three long TD scores on his first 12 catches of the season. “We really need to keep up those kinds of offensive plays in the second.”

Richardson and company provided enough offense to win. Without “P-Rich,” the Buffs would have been in more trouble than they were.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Tyreek Hill had touchdowns receiving and on a punt return, Kansas City’s defense made life miserable for Oakland quarterback Derek Carr, and the Chiefs beat the Raiders 21-13 on a frigid Thursday night to take control of the AFC West. Charcandrick West also had a touchdown run for the Chiefs (10-3). They moved into a first-place...